Eating with sinners; the lost sheep 1
The lost coin 8
The son leaves his father 11
He decides to return 17
Received by the father 21
The elder son disapproves 25
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| 1
¶ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear
him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. |
1
- Drew near ... sinners In the previous chapter, Jesus was
eating with an important Pharisee where He told several parables lu1401.
He is still there or nearby. The Pharisees and scribes clearly didn't approve
of the intrusion of publicans and sinners. Thus the setting of the three
stories to follow. See v25ff.
4 - Leave the ninety and nine The Pharisees and scribes considered themselves to be the saved ones. Jesus didn't contest this but picked up on their point to emphasize the value of lost souls. 4 - Wilderness This phrase is easy to miss. Those who thought themselves among the 99 saved ones, also thought they were in the green pastures, not the wilderness ps02302. 4 - Go after ... lost What comfort to the sinner, to you and me! Misunderstanding Some look at verses like this and believe that God will not leave any sheep out of heaven. See note below. 6 - Rejoice with me What joy it is for those who love the Lord to learn of others who have come to Him. The lesson for us is to avoid hating people who are different. 7 - Joy in heaven A significant point of the chapter. And in the context, the Pharisees should have been joyful that sinners were coming to Jesus. |
| 8
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth
not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find
it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. |
8
- One piece Picture it as part of her dowry, her security
in case of disaster.
Why three stories? There are different kinds of lost people. Like the coin, some don't know it. The sheep know the ideas but didn't know how to come back, and the son knew the way and responded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And the elder brother? He makes a 4th category. See on v25. |
| 11 ¶
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. |
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| 17
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s
have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. |
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| 21
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in
thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. |
24 - Son was dead He was physically and mentally active but spiritually dead and thus without hope for eternal life. Compare jn0524, ro0802. |
| 25
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the
house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. |
25 - Elder son He was lost, too, but was satisfied with false security. The Pharisess and scribes probably related personally to this v2. |
Jesus'
story about one sheep lost out of ninety-nine was to emphasize the value
of the souls of sinners v1. Even one
is worth going after. The Jewish leaders needed to understand this. Elsewhere
He spoke of His sheep as only those who knew His voice
jn1027.
Since He is the only way of salvation ac0412,
the other sheep would be lost.
The
descriptions of the broad and the narrow ways mt0713
and of the sheep and goats mt2531.
include groups of lost people.
The
Scriptures describe eternal death, ceasing to exist ob16,
ez2819,
mal0401.
Universal
salvation violates the principle of free will re2217.
On God being unfair
by requiring an intelligent understanding of truth
This
would be a good argument for universal salvation if it were completely
true.
God
provides light. Those who turn from it to choose darkness are condemned
jn0109,
2th0210.
Responsibility
depends on the light we have ja0417,
ac1730,
ro0119+.
The
book of Revelation is a blessing also for those who can't or don't read
re0103.
On a later chance
to be saved
The
idea that some will be raptured and some saved later has no true support
in the Scriptures re0107b.
It will mean the loss of many souls who put off being ready .
Before
the coming of Jesus the wicked and righteous will be unchangeable re2211.
During
the time of the seven last plagues, the wicked do not repent re1611.
On being unable
to be lost after being in a saved condition
See
on mt1028.
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